AIBU to wonder if my teen can attend the theatre alone?

[LadyInRainbow]

I’ve booked my daughter two tickets for a show for her birthday (special under 25’s price) for her and a friend. I’ve just gone to print them out to give her on her birthday and seen it says under 16s must be sitting next to an over 18, trying to decide what to do.

I can’t buy a seat next to them now there’s nothing left, so…..
can I send them alone? Do theatres ID’d teens? Will a ticket in a different section do? I definitely can’t pass for under 25 to go with her. It’s the Edinburgh playhouse.

Are they both under 16?

Is it a very adult play? Ive never seen ID be requested in a theatre of course my personal experience doesn’t mean it never happens

You haven't told us her age though?

13? 14? 15?

Could she pass for 18?

How old is she?

is that the wording? “Must be sitting next to an over 18”?

because that’s extremely vague. They might well be sitting next to an adult, it’s a technicality that they don’t know them.

i’d be inclined to ensure they dress older than their age and give it a go.

if all else fails I’d grab a randomer and ask them to say they’re with them to get past the door 🤣.

She could be twelve. There must be a reason op declines to say.

I very much doubt those taking tickets on the door will pick anything up

Well she says 'teen'.

But this thread is pointless without the age really.

Which theatre? Some are stricter than others, and will ask for ID, others will be happy with them saying they’re over 16 ( or won’t ask at all). I’m assuming she’s 15 not obviously younger.
is her friend under 16 too? If one of them is 16 you could buy a seat elsewhere, say the 16 year old is sitting on their own, then take that seat yourself as unless they’re disruptive no one will care once you’re through the door.

sorry thought I’d added that she’ll be 15 & 1/2 by the show

Playhouse Edinburgh both are 15 next month show is in October.

Legally blonde. Seen lots of shows never seen anyone ID’d, only parents told the show might not be suitable for their kids, 4ish yo at book of moron & and two tweens at avenue q

Wording is very vague “Age guidance: 8+. Under 16s must be seated next to an adult (18+)”

No but 16 maybe and by the time of the show she’ll be 6 months older than now

No just forgot to add it they are 15 will be 15 1/2 by the show.

The issue’s not if the show is suitable, but that they want children to be supervised both to make sure they behave and to assist them in case of an evacuation. Personally I think a 15 year old could do both those things but most theatre’s seem to think they need accompanying until 16.

@LadyInRainbow Legally Blonde?! Surely they’ll be fine?! It’s not Book of Mormon!

I’m not from the UK, but I’ve been going to the theatre alone since I was under 18 (and I also apparently still looked like a teenager until 30 🙃) and at no point has anyone ever even blinked, let alone asked me for ID. What do people think is going to happen—ushers stopping people mid-aisle like “excuse me, how old are you and where is your supervising adult?”

They scan your ticket, point you in the direction of your seat, and move on. They’re trying to get a full house seated and the show started, not run an age-verification operation. Unless someone is clearly a small child on their own, no one is checking.

That “under 16s must sit next to an adult” line is there for policy/liability reasons, not because they’re actively policing it once you’re inside. In practice, your daughter and her friend will walk in, sit down, and watch the show like everyone else.

As someone else said I think it’s around health and safety not whether it’s appropriate.

My 16 yr old went up the theatre in London recently and was asked for ID, as were her friends. They were all 16/17 and had copies of their passports/provisional licences with them, so were ok, but they absolutely can get asked for ID.

As long as they're sensible nobody will check

They could easily say no I don't carry any

Maybe, but I don't think they would have been let in. Their ticket clearly said under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult.

I think for some shows it might be money making exercise, have cheaper tickets for children but make sure an adult paying full price with them. However that doesn’t fit with the discount being under 25 as the adult can get a discount.